It’s a lot of fun to take an idea and to create something from it. It’s a lot more fun, and a lot easier, to do this in a community such as Cape Elizabeth. I am grateful to the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation, not only for its financial support, but for the exposure it has given robotics, and for the words of encouragement I have received from CEEF members along the way.

In addition to CEEF, I must highlight others in our community without whose help this program would not be where it is today. First, when I started Cape Robotics, I solicited for help from community volunteers. Within a week I had received a call from a man named Eric Jensen, a retired computer programmer and tinkerer. Among his many credentials, Eric worked for the very company that started the international FIRST robotics program, the very program in which we will participate this year at the middle school and high school levels. Eric is an exceptional assistant.

Next, Conor Dodd, a senior, has been nothing short of phenomenal in his help to me. Conor is amazing to watch as he builds various robotic creations. And last spring Conor donated one afternoon each week to help coach 14 middle school students as they prepared to enter the Spring Robot Track Meet. Frankie Underdown, a freshman, has also been very helpful. Frankie donated a week this summer to help teach an elementary school robotics program offered over the summer.

Thank you, CEEF, I am honored to have received this year’s Brownell Award. And I appreciate all those who have helped me in so many ways to get the robotics program started.